The NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM was created by the NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM
ACT (Pub.L. 90–543, 82 Stat. 919, enacted October 2, 1968), codified
at 16 U.S.C. § 1241 et seq.

The Act created a series of National trails "to promote the
preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and
appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of
the Nation." Specifically, the Act authorized three types of trails:
the National Scenic Trails , National Recreation Trails and
connecting-and-side trails. The 1968 Act also created two national
scenic trails: the Appalachian and the Pacific Crest ; and requested
that an additional fourteen trail routes be studied for possible
inclusion.

In 1978, as a result of the study of trails that were most
significant for their historic associations, a fourth category of
trail was added: the National Historic Trails . Since 1968, over forty
trail routes have been studied for inclusion in the system. Of these
studied trails, twenty-one have been established as part of the
system. Today, the
National Trails System consists of 30 National
Scenic and Historic Trails and over 1,000 National Recreation Trail
and two connecting-and-side trails, with a total length of more than
50,000 miles (80,000 km). These
National Trails are more than just for
hiking , many are also open for horseback riding , mountain biking and
camping .

As Congressionally established long-distance trails , each one is
administered by a federal agency, either the Bureau of Land Management
,
United States Forest Service , or
National Park ServiceNational Park Service . Two of the
trails are jointly administered by the BLM and the NPS. Occasionally,
these agencies acquire lands to protect key sites, resources and
viewsheds . More often than not, they work in partnership with the
states, local units of government, land trusts and private landowners,
to protect lands and structures along these trails, enabling them to
be accessible to the public. National Recreation Trails and
connecting-and-side trails do not require Congressional action, but
are recognized by actions of the Secretary of the Interior or the
Secretary of Agriculture . All of the
National Trails are supported by
private non-profit organizations that work with the various federal
agencies under the PARTNERSHIP FOR THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM (PNTS).

The Act is codified as 16 U.S.C. §§ 1241–1251. However, it has
been amended numerous times since its passage, most recently on
October 18, 2004 (Pub.L. 108–342).

National Scenic Trails are established to provide access to
spectacular natural beauty and to allow the pursuit of healthy outdoor
recreation. The National Scenic
TrailTrail system provides access to the
crest of the
Appalachian Mountains in the east, on the Appalachian
TrailTrail , to the
Rocky Mountains of the west on the Continental Divide
TrailTrail . You can experience the subtle beauties of the southern
wetlands and Gulf Coast on the Florida
TrailTrail or wander the North Woods
from New York to
North Dakota on the North Country
TrailTrail or experience
the vast diversity of landscapes of the southwest on the Arizona
National Scenic
TrailTrail . There are eleven trails designated in the
United States.

National Historic Trails are designated to protect the remains of
significant overland or water routes to reflect the history of the
nation. They represent the earliest travels across the continent on
the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic
TrailTrail ; the nation's
struggle for independence on the Overmountain Victory National
Historic
TrailTrail ; epic migrations on the Mormon text-align:left;
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The act also established a category of trails known as connecting and
side trails. To date, only two national side trails have been
designated, both in 1990: The
Timms Hill Trail, which connects the Ice
Age
TrailTrail to Wisconsin's highest point,
Timms Hill , and the 86-mile
Anvik Connector, which joins the Iditarod
TrailTrail to the village of
Anvik, Alaska .